Helios V - Georges Braque
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A 1948 lithograph by Georges Braque, featuring a stylised depiction of the sun god Helios in a palette of deep blue and violet.
Helios V is a lithograph by the French artist Georges Braque, produced in 1948. This work reflects the artist's later period, where his focus shifted from the analytical deconstruction of objects to a more lyrical, symbolic exploration of form. The composition features a stylised figure of the sun god, Helios, depicted alongside a horse, a recurring motif in Braque's graphic work during this decade.
The visual language here is defined by a stark contrast between the central, illuminated figures and the surrounding dark, atmospheric borders. Braque employs a limited palette of blue and violet tones, which creates a sense of nocturnal mystery. The lines are fluid and calligraphic, suggesting movement and ethereal presence rather than physical weight. The central figures are framed within a rounded, organic shape, which is then set against a series of concentric rectangular borders. This layering effect draws the eye inward, focusing attention on the interplay between the celestial subject and the abstract background.
Braque's approach to the myth of Helios is not one of classical representation. Instead, he reduces the subject to its essential graphic components. The stars integrated into the figure's form and the base of the composition provide a rhythmic quality to the piece. The lithographic process allows for a soft, painterly application of colour, which complements the dreamlike nature of the subject matter. This print demonstrates the artist's ability to synthesise classical themes with the aesthetic sensibilities of mid-twentieth-century modernism. It is a work that prioritises balance and visual harmony, offering a quiet contemplation of ancient mythology through a distinctly modern lens.
You might also like
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Helios V - Georges Braque
Artist Biography
Georges Braque
He grew up in Argenteuil and Le Havre, the son and grandson of house painters. He apprenticed as a decorative painter, learning to imitate wood grain and marble, techniques he later used in his Cubist papiers colles. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and exhibited with the Fauves in 1906, painting bright, loose landscapes influenced by Matisse.
Everything changed when he saw Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon in 1907. He went to L'Estaque that summer and painted landscapes that broke the scenery into geometric facets, which is what a critic called 'cubes.' The name stuck. Between 1908 and 1914 he and Picasso worked so closely that their paintings from this period are sometimes difficult to tell apart. They showed each other everything. They finished each other's ideas.
The war separated them. Braque was severely wounded at Carency in 1915: a head injury that left him temporarily blind and required trepanning. He did not paint for over a year. When he returned to work, the collaboration with Picasso was over. They remained on good terms but never worked together again.
His post-war paintings are quieter, more resolved, less competitive. The Studio series, large paintings of the interior of his Normandy studio with birds flying through the space, occupied him through the 1950s. He died in 1963, at eighty-one. Picasso outlived him by ten years.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
Fast Shipping
Museum-Quality Materials
You May Also Like